Huisheng Shi

Alkali-activated complex binders from class C fly ash and Ca-containing admixtures

Processes that maximize utilization of industrial solid wastes are greatly needed. Sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solution were used to create alkali-activated complex binders (AACBs) from class C fly ash (CFA) and other Ca-containing admixtures including Portland cement (PC), flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG), and water treatment residual (WTR). Specimens made only from CFA (CFA100), or the same fly ash mixed with 40 wt% PC (CFA60-PC40), with 10 wt% FGDG (CFA90-FGDG10), or with 10 wt% WTR (CFA90-WTR10) had better mechanical performance compared to binders using other mix ratios. The maximum compressive strength of specimens reached 80.0 MPa. Geopolymeric gel, sodium polysilicate zeolite, and hydrated products coexist when AACB reactions occur. Ca from CFA, PC, and WTR precipitated as Ca(OH)(2), bonded in geopolymers to obtain charge balance, or reacted with dissolved silicate and aluminate species to form calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel. However, Ca from FGDG probably reacted with dissolved silicate and aluminate species to form ettringite. Utilization of CFA and Ca-containing admixtures in AACB is feasible. These binders may be widely utilized in various applications such as in building materials and for solidification/stabilization of other wastes, thus making the wastes more environmentally benign.

Utilization of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash for sulfoaluminate cement clinker production

The feasibility of partially substituting raw materials with municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash in sulfoaluminate cement (SAC) clinker production was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), compressive strength and free expansion ratio testing. Three different leaching tests were used to assess the environmental impact of the produced material. Experimental results show that the replacement of MSWI fly ash could be taken up to 30% in the raw mixes. The good quality SAC clinkers are obtained by controlling the compositional parameters at alkalinity modulus (C(m)) around 1.05, alumina-sulfur ratio (P) around 2.5, alumina-silica ratio (N) around 2.0~3.0 and firing the raw mixes at 1250 °C for 2h. The compressive strengths of SAC are high in early age while that develop slowly in later age. Results also show that the expansive properties of SAC are strongly depended on the gypsum content. Leaching studies of toxic elements in the hydrated SAC-based system reveal that all the investigated elements are well bounded in the clinker minerals or immobilized by the hydration products. Although some limited positive results indicate that the SAC prepared from MSWI fly ash would present no immediate thread to the environment, the long-term toxicity leaching behavior needs to be further studied.

Effective adsorption of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) by hydrocalumite (CaAl-LDH-Cl) induced by self-dissolution and re-precipitation mechanism.

Hydrocalumite (CaAl-LDH-Cl) was synthesized through a rehydration method involving a freshly prepared tricalcium aluminate (C(3)A) with CaCl(2) solution. To understand the intercalation behavior of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) with CaAl-LDH-Cl, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP), and elemental analysis have been undertaken. The sorption isotherms with SDS reveal that the maximum sorption amount of SDS by CaAl-LDH-Cl could reach 3.67 mmol g(-1). The results revealed that CaAl-LDH-Cl holds a self-dissolution property, about 20-30% of which is dissolved. And the dissolved Ca(2+) and Al(3+) ions are combined with SDS to form CaAl-SDS or Ca-SDS precipitation. It has been highlighted that the composition of resulting products is strongly dependent upon the SDS concentration. With increasing SDS concentrations, the main resulting product changes from CaAl-SDS to Ca-SDS, and the value of interlayer spacing increased to 3.27 nm.

Effects of temperature on the hydration characteristics of free lime

The rate of heat evolution of hydrating CaO has been determined quantitatively by means of a conductive microcalorimetry, and the hydration kinetics of CaO has been studied. Some regularity of the influence of temperature on the hydration characteristics of free lime (f-CaO) has been discussed as well. Based on the present research, the mechanism of effects of temperature in the calcining process and the hydration process on the hydration of CaO has been illustrated.

Near-infrared and mid-infrared investigations of Na-dodecylbenzenesulfate intercalated into hydrocalumite chloride (CaAl-LDH-Cl)

Hydrocalumite (CaAl-LDH-Cl) belongs to layered double hydroxides (LDHs). The intercalation of Na-dodecylbenzenesulfate (SDBS) into CaAl-LDH-Cl has been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. The mid-infrared spectra indicated that SDBS could be intercalated into CaAl-LDH-Cl, with the same lattice structure to that of CaAl-LDH-Cl, and the interlayer distance of resultant product was expanded to 2.78 nm as confirmed by XRD. The near-infrared spectra (9200-4000 cm(-1)) showed that a special spectral range from 6200 to 5600 cm(-1) and prominent bands of CaAl-LDH-Cl intercalated with SDBS around 8300 cm(-1). This band was assigned to the second overtone of the first fundamental of C-H stretching vibrations of SDBS, and can be used to determinate the result of CaAl-LDH-Cl modified by anionic surfactants. The bands of water stretching vibrations and -OH groups shifted to higher wavenumbers when CaAl-LDH-Cl was intercalated by SDBS, and their intensity of MIR and NIR spectra became lower in intensity.

Effects of steel slag powder on workability and durability of concrete

The workability and durability of a type of sustainable concrete made with steel slag powder were investigated. The hydrated products of cement paste with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) alone or with a combined admixture of GGBFS-steel slag powder were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, the mechanism of chemically activated steel slag powder was also studied. The experimental results showed that when steel slag powder was added to concrete, the slumps through the same time were lower. The initial and final setting times were slightly retarded. The dry shrinkages were lower, and the abrasion resistance was better. The chemically activated steel slag powder could improve compressive strengths, resistance to chloride permeation and water permeation, as well as carbonization resistance. XRD patterns indicated that the activators enhanced the formation of calcium silicate hydrate(C-S-H) gel and ettringite (AFt). This research contributes to sustainable disposal of wastes and has the potential to provide several important environmental benefits.

Utilization of thermally treated flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum and class-C Fly Ash (CFA) to prepare CFA-based geopolymer

The feasibility of utilization of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum and Class-C fly ash (CFA) to prepare CFA-based geopolymer were studied. The results showed that geopolymer made from 90% CFA and 10% FGD gypsum (FGDG) which was thermally treated at 800 °C for 1 h obtained the better compressive strength of 37.0 MPa. The micro characteristics and structures of the geopolymer samples of CFA and CFA-FGDG were tested by XRD, FT-IR, and SEM-EDXA after these samples cured at 75 °C for 8 h followed by 23 °C for 28 d. Both the geopolymer samples of CFA and CFA-FGDG have significant asymmetric stretching of Al-O/Si-O bonds and Si-O-Si / Si-O-Al bending band. In geopolymer sample of CFA-FGDG, a small quantity of lathy products probably being the ettringite wrapped over the spherical fly ash particle, and the concentration of sulfur is much more than that in geopolymer sample of CFA. It is indicated that FGD gypsum may react during alkali-activated and geopolymeric process.

Static and dynamic leaching experiments of heavy metals from fly ash-based geopolymers

The feasibility of high calcium fly ash (CFA)-based geopolymers to fix heavy metals were studied. The CFA-based geopolymers were prepared from CFA, flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG), and water treatment residual (WTR). The static leaching showed that heavy metals concentrations from CFAbased geopolymers were lower than their maximum concentration limits according to the U.S. environmental protection law. And the encapsulated and fixed ratios of heavy metals by the CFA-based geopolymers were 96.02%–99.88%. The dynamic real-time leaching experiment showed that concentration of Pb (II) was less than 1.1 μg / L, Cr (VI) less than 3.25 mg / L, while Hg (II) less than 4.0 μg / L. Additionally, dynamic accumulated leaching concentrations were increased at the beginning of leaching process then kept stable. During the dynamic leaching process, heavy metals migrated and accumulated in an area near to the solid-solution interface. When small part of heavy metals in “the accumulated area” breached through the threshold value of physical encapsulation and chemical fixation they migrated into solution. The dynamic leaching ratios and effective diffusion coefficients of heavy metals from CFA-based geopolymer were very low and the long-term security of heavy metals in CFA-based geopolymer was safe.

Influence of thermally treated flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum on performance of the slag powder concrete

The feasibility of flue gas desulphurization (FGD) as concrete admixture was studied. A combined concrete admixture of the thermally-treated FGD gypsum and slag powder was explored. The FGD gypsum was roasted at 200 °C for 60 min and then mixed with the slag powder to form FGD gypsum-slag powder combined admixture in which the SO3 content was 3.5wt%. Cement was partially and equivalently replaced by slag powder alone or FGD gypsum-slag powder, at concentration of 25wt%, 40wt%, and 50wt%, respectively. The setting times, hydration products, total porosity and pore size distributions of the paste were determined. The compressive strength and drying shrinkage of cement mortar and concrete were also tested. The experimental results show that, in the presence of FGD gypsum, the setting times are much slower than those of pastes in the absence of FGD gypsum. The combination of FGD gypsum and slag powder provides synergistic benefits above that of slag powder alone. The addition of FGD gypsum provides benefit by promoting ettringite formation and forms a compact microstructure, increasing the compressive strength and reduces the drying shrinkage of cement mortar and concrete.